Training Tips from Gizzy (and Cherie): Issue 9

🐾 Training Tips from Gizzy: The Power of the Pack! 🐾

Oh hey, friends! It’s me, Gizzy, and boy, do I have a big lesson to share with you this week—one I wasn’t expecting to learn, but wow, was it important!

So, you all know I love to play. Zoomies, wrestling, tug—if it’s fun, I’m in! But this week, I had to step up my game and be more than just the life of the party. I had to be a good playmate for a new pup who wasn’t so sure about… well, anything.

This week, we had a foster dog come stay with us. She’s a seven-month-old pup, still trying to figure out the world, and she was NOT feeling good about other dogs. Like, at all. The first time I met her, she curled her lip and showed her teeth a lot. Yikes. I wasn’t sure what to do—was she mad? Was she gonna bite me? Cherie said she was scared and just needed time.

So, I did what any good packmate would do. I gave her space and let the big dogs—my Lab sisters and my GSD Aunties—show her that we’re all cool. Slowly, she started hanging out with us. She watched. She sniffed. She got curious. And then… the best thing happened. She started playing!

And not just playing—playing with ME! We ran, we bounced, we zoomed, and guess what? We’re besties now!

This whole experience got me thinking—being part of a pack isn’t just about playing. It’s about learning. And when dogs play together in a healthy way, amazing things happen!

The Benefits of Pack Play

🐾 Confidence Boosting – My new buddy learned that dogs aren’t scary after all! Playing in a safe environment helped her feel braver and more comfortable.

🐾 Better Social Skills – Just like humans, we dogs need to learn how to communicate. Play teaches us how to read body language, respect boundaries, and interact without getting too pushy or too scared.

🐾 Energy Burn = Happier Dog – Running, wrestling, and playing helps us burn off steam so we can be calm and relaxed at home. (Cherie says that’s a big win for the humans, too.)

🐾 Learning Self-Control – Good play isn’t just chaos—it’s about taking turns, adjusting our play style, and reading each other’s signals. If someone says “too much,” we back off.

🐾 Stronger Bonds – Pack life is all about trust. When we play together, we’re not just having fun—we’re building friendships and learning to feel safe around each other.

What This Means for You & Your Pup

If your dog is nervous around other dogs, that’s okay! The key is positive, low-pressure experiences with calm, well-mannered playmates. Start slow, let them observe first, and don’t force interactions. When done right, play can be one of the best tools for building confidence and social skills!

Do you have a story about your pup making a new friend? Or maybe a question about how to help a nervous dog with socialization? Share it in the Facebook Group—I’d love to hear all about it!

Until next time, keep wagging and playing!

Love,
Gizzy